Storing and handling apparatus for asphalt



1,637,889 Aug. 2,1927. W ASH STORING AND HANDLING APPARATUS FOR ASPHALT Filed Aug. 6. 1925' Fig. 2

IN V EN TOR.

ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 2, 1927. I

UNITED. STATES amas PATENT OFFICE.

HORACE W. ASH, Oll WINCHESTER, MASSAGHUSETTS.

STORING AND HANDLING APPARATUS FOR ASPHALT.

Application filed August 6, 1925. Serial No. 48,562.

- method, it was not an uncommon occurrence for the pump to be pumping asphalt which was, say the consistency of cold molasses, whereas, there was ample asphalt in the melting chamber of the consistency of water which could not be reached by the pump because it was above the opening in the suction pipe.

It is therefore the most important object of the present invention to arrange a tubular element about the receiving end of the suction pipe. This tubular element is perforated with a number of relatively small apertures permitting passage therethrough of only such of the hotter portion of the mass of asphalt within the tank .as has been reduced to such state of fluidity as will insure its passage through the suction pipe and on to the desired point of delivery.

The above stated object may be better ac-- complished by gradually reducing the diameter of the perforations in the tube from the upper to the lower end thereof, the smaller perforations at the bottom acting to eventually shut out the colder asphalt which flows into the melting chamber of the storage tank from the storage chamber thereof and settles down at the bottom of the melting chamber replacing the hot asphalt. which has been pumped out, the relatively large perforations at the top of the tubular member permitting the free passage therethrough of the rising body of heated material.

Further objects reside in the provision of rforated tubes of such external form as best adapt the same to the conditions peculiar to the particular plant to which it is applied and for the purpose of obtaining the best results.

and a removable cover 13 is arranged over In the accompanying drawing wherein an approved embodiment of the invention is illustrated:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic sectional view of a conventional type of storage tank illustrating the invention applied thereto.

Figure 2 is a side elevation, partly in sec .tion, and on an enlarged scale of the tubular member removed from the tank and,

Figures 3 and 4 are cross-sectional views of two different forms of tubular members.

Referring to the drawing in detail the' numeral oindicates the usual outer part of the storage tank mounted upon the suitable foundation 6, the latter being provided centrally with a well 7 communicating with the storage chamber 8. A vertical partition 9 supported upon the piers 10 'is' arranged within the storage chamber 8 and provides the usual heating chamber 11. As will be understood, the piers 10 are arranged in spaced relation to permit free passage of r asphalt between the chambers 8 and 11. The

top of the chamber 8 is covered by a roof 12 the upper end of the heating chamber 11.

A series of heating coils 14. is arranged internally of the heating chamber .11. The inlet of said coils being connected by branch pipes 15 with a steam supply pipe 16 and the opposite ends of said coils being connected by coils 17 with a. steam exhaust pipe 18.

The suction pipe 19 is connected with an asphalt pump 20 at one end and the opposite end thereof is extended downwardly as indlcated at 21 between the partition 9 and the opposite portion of the heating coils 14.

The steam pipe 16 is extended for a distance through the suction pipe 19 for maintaining the asphalt passing therethrough in a heated condition and the pump 20 is provided with a coupling 22 adapted for connection with the suction line from a tank car (not shown). The pump is also connected with a discharge pipe 23 from the pump to the melting cham- A heated coil 25 may be, if desired, arranged about the bottom 0f the storage chamber 8 although it has been found that the same may under certain conditions be dispensed with.

The storage tank constructed as described in the foregoing is of a conventional type and the invention consists in the application thereto of the tubular member illustrated in detail in Figures 2 to 4.

The. tubular member is indicated at 26 and provided with an open upper end 27 and a closed and imperforate bottom 28.

The tubular member is provided throughout its entire length with perforations 29, certain of which are illustrated'in Fi re 2 and which, as clearly indicated in said figure, are gradually reduced in diameter from the top to the bottom of the tubular member. The member 26 is of. such internal diameter as to be conveniently slipped over the vertical portion 21 of the suction pipe 19, leaving sufficient space therebetween for the free passage of heated asphalt that enters through the perforations. The bottom 28 of the tubular member, which may be either solid or perforated, rests upon the bottom orfoundation 6 of the storage tank and the upper extremity of the tubular member terminates at a point slightly below the-elbow in the suction line 19. The extreme lower end of the vertical portion 21 of the suction pipe is so disposed with relation to the closed lower end 28 of the tubular member as to provide ample space for the free passage of asphalt and its admission to the suction In operation, steam is admitted to coils 14 and the mass of asphalt within the heatin chamber 11 is heated, the relatively sma quantity of cold asphalt disposed in the tubular member 26 being rapidly heated and reduced to a fluid by conduction. When the pump 20 is set in operation the suction created in thepi e 19 draws the asphalt out of the heating chamber 11 and incident to continued operation the asphalt heated by the coils 14 rises to the upper portion of the body of the asphalt in the heating chamber and the hotter portion of the heated asphalt in the chamber enters the top of the perforated tube or through the perforations in the tubular member 26 and passing downwardly between the latter and the vertical portion 21 of the suction pipe is drawn into the latter and conveyed to the point of delivery.

The closed lower end 28 of the tubular member prevents the relativel cold asphalt which enters the bottom 0 the heating chamber 11 to replace the heated asphalt withdrawn from gaining access to the receiving end of the suction pipe and obstructing the latter, while the relatively small apertures of the lower extremity of the tubular member act to prevent the assage of the relatively cold and heavy asp alt at the bottom of t e heating chamber 11 from gaining access to the suction pipe. Although under most circumstances, one size of perforations from the to to the bottom of the tubular member wo d serve the pur ose admirably, but it is evident that if sai tubular mem- 'chamber, a heating coil in the heating ber were ion and the pump were pumping faster than t e asphalt flowed into the tubular member, the hydrostatic pressure on the asphalt outside of the member would be greater at the bottom of the tube than at the top, and the object in having two sizes of perforations is merely to compensate for this greater hydrostatic pressure at the bottom of the tube where the asphalt on the outside of it is the coldest. In other words, if the holes were all of the same size, the cold asphalt which might'not enter the holes at the top of the tube at all, might flow in more or less freely into the bottom holes due to the hydrostatic pressure, and also to the weight of the asphalt above it;

The-shape of the tubular member, in crosssection, may be varied according to the particular type of storage tank in connection with which the invention is used. For instance, in Figure 3 the tube is shown as being elliptical in cross-section so as to provide sufiicient external surface to accommodate a great number of holes or perforations, whereas in Figure 4 the tubular member is circular in cross-section.

Although throughout the specification I have referred to the apparatus as being used exclusively for handling asphalt, it will be readily understood that the invention is not necessarily limited to handling this material as various other subjects may be handled with equal facility.

It is also apparent that the details disclosed in the embodiment of the invention here illustrated and described may be varied without departing from the spirit of theinvention as expressed in the annexed claims.

What I claim is:

1. In combination, a tank, a suction pipe extending into the tank and having a re. ceiving end, a vertical perforated tubular member receiving the receiving end and adjacent portions of the suction pipe, heating means arranged in the tank and disposed adjacent the tubular member, the perforations in said tubular member being gradually reduced in size from the upper to the lower end of said member.

2. An arran ement as claimed in claim 1 characterized y the provision of means closin the lower end of the tubular member w ereby to cause the contents of the tank to enter said member through the perforations therein.

3. In combination, a tank, having in communication a heating chamber and a storage I 'chamber extending for a distance upward from the bottom of the tank, a suction plpe extending downwardly in the heatin chamber, a vertically arranged hollow mem er having a lower closed end located below the lower end of the said suction pipe and enclosing the Suction pipe upwardly to substantially the level of the top of the said heating coil, and the said member being provided with openings allowing free entrance into the top of the said member of liquid material having a certain fluidity1 and lower restricted openings to prevent t e entrance of material less fluid.

4. In combination, a tank, having in' communication a heating chamber and a storage chamber, a heating coil in the heating chamber extending upwardly for a distance from the bottom of the tank, a suction pipe extending downwardly in the heating chamber, a vertically arranged hollow member having a lower end located below the lower end of the said suction pipe and enclosing the said pipe upwardly to substantially the level of the top of the said heating coil, and the said member having lines of perforations, the said perforations being largest at the top of the said member to allow free entrance of the material of a certain fluidity into the said member, and the said perforations being smallest near the bottom of the member to prevent the entrance of material less fluid.

5. In combination, a tank, a heating chamber in the tank, means for maintaining asphalt in the said chamber in a heated condition, a tubular member arranged vertically in the said heating chamber, the said member being provided with openings near the top constructed and arranged to allow the entrance of a certain amount of fluid material, the said member having lower openings providing more limited entrance passages for fluid material, and a suction pipe connected with the said chamber and opening into the lower portion of the tubular member.

6. In combination, a tank having a heating chamber, means for maintaining asphalt in said chamber in a heated condition, a tubular member arranged vertically in the said heating chamber, the said member being provided with openings near the top constructed and arranged to allow the entrance of a certain amount of fluid material, the said member having openings intermediate of its ends whereby a more limited entrance of fluid material into the said member is afforded, the said member having lowest openings whereby still more limited entrance into the said member for fluid material is afforded, and a suction pipe connected with the said member.

7. In combination, a tank for heating asphalt to a fluid condition, a perforated hollow member in the tank vertically arranged, the said perforations being located at various points throughout the length of the said member, the said perforations forming in the aggregate at the top of the said member the largest passage for fluid material into the said member, the said perforations being constructed and arranged to gradually decrease the entrance passage 1nto the said member as the bottom of the member is ap roached and means for drawing the material from the lower portion of the said member.

8. In combination, a tank for heating as phalt to a fluid condition, a perforated hol low member in the tank vertically arranged from which the fluid asphalt may be drawn, the perforations of the said member being located at various points throughout the length thereof, and the said perforations being of greatest diameter at the top of the said member constructed of gradually less diameter as the bottom of the said member is approached, the said member having an outlet communicating with its lower portion.

9. In combination, a tank for heating as.- phalt to a fluid condition, a perforated hollow member in the tank vertically arranged and having groups of perforations at varioui points throughout the length of the member, the said groups of perforations affording greatest fluid entrance into the member at the top and decreasing fluid entrance into the member as the bottom of the member is approached, the said member having an outlet communicating with its lower portion.-

10. In combination, a tank for heating asphalt to a fluid condition, a hollow member in the tank vertically arranged and having groups of perforations at various points throughout the length thereof, the said perforations being largest at the top of the said member, and the said perforations being constructed of gradually decreasing size as the bottom of the said member is approached, the said member having an outlet communication with its lower portion.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

HORACE W. ASH. 

